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Apple patent details camera bias compensation

By Charles Starrett ● Thursday, February 18, 2010

A newly-published Apple patent application suggests the company is working on new manufacturing processes that would provide consumers with a more consistent experience when using cameras built-in to the company’s products. Entitled “Apparatus and Method for Compensating for Variations in Digital Cameras,” the patent explains that imaging sensors and lenses can vary slightly from unit to unit, resulting in inconsistent operation. The patent proposes to overcome this limitation by having each module capture images of colored light, which are then measured for color intensity bias. The resulting bias is stored in the camera, and is used to ensure that images and video captured by the camera contain appropriate color information. Curiously, images included in the application also depict an iPod-like device with a front-facing camera. As with all Apple patents, this filing does not necessarily represent any future product release from Apple, but offers evidence of the company’s research in this area. [via AppleInsider]